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Fate of former hospital’s property uncertain

Published: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 8:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 8:12 p.m.

The demolition process for the former Terrebonne Parish Mental Health Center in Houma begins soon, but there are still no plans on what will be done with the property or how much the demolition will cost the parish.

The former Legion Avenue state mental-health center was shut down in 2004 after officials found toxic mold inside in enough quantities to merit concern. Clinic workers said the mold problem had been traced to roof repairs that took place years before. A rainstorm occurred while the roof was off, leaving the building’s interior unprotected. That left moisture that created the mold over time.

The building and property has since been given to the parish, and the new center reopened at 106 Moss Lane, off Tunnel Boulevard near St. Charles Street.

The remaining 23,000-square-foot building will be stripped of the toxic mold and asbestos beginning March 28, said Angela Guidry, Terrebonne Parish purchasing manager. Following the asbestos abatement, the building will be demolished.

The state gave the parish $143,000 for demolition, though Guidry said administration is still uncertain how much the abatement and demolition process will cost or what will be done with the property.

Health officials had planned to go ahead with renovations to the building with an eye toward returning there in the future, but Terrebonne Parish Manager Al Levron said the Department of Health and Hospitals decided it would cost less to demolish it.

There are talks about turning the property into a parking area for the South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority Assessment Center next door, but “no firm commitment has been made,” Levron said.

Lisa Schilling, the authority’s executive director, said the department would like a parking lot built because there is limited parking for patients.

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